For months, I'm harboring a little lump on the back of my right hand palm (near the wrist). I was just ignoring it thinking that I might have just bumped my hand into something causing it to swell. Unnoticed, I was surprised that it got more prominent, though painless, as days passed. However, since I was quite conscious of its increasing size, can't help but wonder what's this?

The pain started yesterday morning when I woke up. It continued throughout the day and it got even more painful everytime I carry something or everytime I just move my hand sideways slowing me down at work. I need to pace up pa man din at work, otherwise, di mababawasan ang nakapila to pay their bills.

Bothered of its look and of the pain..I decided to file a sick leave today and went to see a doctor at Patient First Glorietta. Upon seeing and touching the lump on my hand, Dr. Cabreza immediately blurted out that it's a Ganglion cyst. At first..I got nervous of the word "cyst" thinking it might be cancerous or something. Seeing the worried look at my eyes, the doctor explained right away that it's harmless. He further explained that a ganglion is a fluid filled sac that grows out of a joint. This sac rises out of the connective tissues between bones and muscles and contains slippery fluid similar to the fluid in our joints. Because the fluid-filled sac puts pressure on the nerves that pass through the joint, some ganglion cysts may be painful.

As to how it is formed? Doc said the cause of it is not completely understood. Since ganglia can occur when there is a small tear in the ligament..it may be due to injury, a degenerative process or just mere abnormality. It may also have something to do with activities applying pressure on wrists. (hala..hindi kaya lagi kasi nakababad sa computer...typing all day long? haha!)

As for the treatment, I could just ignore it lang daw since it's harmless naman. But then, I'm disturbed and bothered of the pain kaya sabi ni doc surgical excision daw. Ano daw? In layman's term..ooperahan. WaahhhH! Kahit na it's just an outpatient surgery...still, operasyon pa rin. It will remove the ganglion BUT it's not a guarantee daw that it will not recur. Anyway, i'll have it na rin kasi nga I'm not comfortable of the pain. I was supposed to schedule it this Friday but I could not because of our company overnight outing at Subic scheduled tomorrow. Besides, Paul's sister is acquainted with a surgeon that I might have the excision for free. So yun, we'll set an appointment first so i might have it next week. Hay! Good luck sakin :(